Robbie Williams reveals his father has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease

The singer told of his worry at being separated from his parents during lockdown.

23 May, 2020 01:48

Robbie Williams has revealed his father has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

The singer, 46, is isolating at his home in Los Angeles with wife Ayda Field and their four children.

Williams said he has been experiencing “fear and panic” while his 70-year-old father is in the UK.

Robbie Williams has revealed his father has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PA Images on behalf of So TV)

He told the Mirror: “We’ve got a lot of family issues right now. My dad has got Parkinson’s, my mother-in-law who I love dearly has got a very big illness. We can’t get to them. My dad is thousands of miles away.”

Williams added: “My mum is just a year short of 80 and she’s in isolation and I can see the things whirling in her mind and her eyes going.”

The X Factor judge, who has been open about his mental health struggles, said he has learned to deal with his problems in a healthier way.

He said: “I noticed at the start of the lockdown that I was going into fear. But the difference between me now and the person I used to be… I saw it, thought ‘That’s interesting – tomorrow will be different’. And it was.”

Former Take That star Williams has often been joined on stage by his father Peter, who is also a singer.

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects a sufferer’s movement, often including tremors.

According to the NHS, it is thought around 1 in 500 people are affected by Parkinson’s disease.

Most people with Parkinson’s start to develop symptoms when they are over 50, though many first experience symptoms before the age of 40.